As we get older, some of our senses change which can affect our driving. But it’s an activity that remains perfectly safe if you acknowledge your limitations, and make some simple changes to your driving habits. According to AAA, there are right things and wrong things to do as a senior behind the wheel. Answer the following questions, and if you answer “no” to some or all, you need to make some changes because you will be a hazard behind the wheel, both to yourself and to other drivers on San Antonio roads.

• You get eye exams at least every 2 years
• You drive during the day to limit problems with glare
• You turn your head frequently  to help expand limited peripheral vision
• You keep your car clean, especially the windshield, mirrors and wiper blades
• You have installed a larger rearview mirror to expand visibility
• You know how to adjust mirrors properly
• You leave at least 4  seconds between you and cars ahead
• You avoid left turns if you are uncomfortable with your reactions
• You eliminate distractions – turn off the radio, cell phone and any other things that could cause distraction
• You always plan your route so you don’t need to make last minute decisions
• You avoid busy driving times like rush hour or busy streets

Sources:

1. AAASeniors

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

There are a number of reasons that San Antonio seniors are reluctant to make resistance training as part of their routines, and while some may perceive them as excuses, in reality they are due to misconceptions about strength training that are fairly common. By explaining these myths, and the realities, San Antonio seniors can gain an increased understanding of how they can benefit their health with resistance training.

Common Myths about Resistance Training:

• Resistance training is about getting buff – weight training isn’t just about building muscle mass to improve physical appearance, it can also have positive effects on insulin sensitivity, help high cholesterol, and improve bone density loss
• Strength training will make women look to bulky – senior women can lift light weights or use resistance bands in order to improve muscular strength, but not all resistance training activities cause seniors to have large muscles
• There’s an age limit on strength training – benefits can occur in people of all ages, and with a safe routine, there’s no problem for seniors of any age

• Strength training only helps with weight or fat loss if diet is changed – all seniors should maintain a healthy diet, but the benefits can occur in those who make no modifications

Sources:

1. Suite101

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Q – Recently my mom has been complaining about swelling around her ankles, feet, and occasionally around her legs. I seem to remember reading that these symptoms can be linked to poor blood circulation. Is this the case? And if so, are there any other ways to identify it so we can consult the appropriate San Antonio medical professional about what my mom’s experiencing?

A – The symptoms your mom is experiencing could be very well linked to poor blood circulation. Just because the swelling appears in the limbs, however, doesn’t mean that’s the source of the poor blood circulation. Often, problems that appear in the feet, ankles or legs, like swelling can be indicative of poor blood circulation in the kidneys. The best way to get a diagnosis of poor blood circulation, is of course, to talk to a San Antonio doctor about the symptoms your mom’s experiencing, because swelling can also be linked to other medical problems or appear as side effects to medications. However, to help you get a better grasp of the symptoms and effects of poor blood pressure; here is some more information for your understanding.

• Effects upon the brain – poor blood circulation can impact the brain causing fatigue, dizziness, memory loss, and frequent and unexplained headaches
• Effects upon the heart – poor blood circulation can have an impact on the heart, causing inability to perform simple aerobic activities like climbing stairs without breathlessness; high blood pressure and cholesterol, and chest pain can be other symptoms
• Effects upon the liver – symptoms of poor blood circulation in the liver can include lack of appetite or unexplained weight loss, and changes in skin tone
• Effects upon the kidneys – poor circulation to the kidneys are typically the result when there is swelling of the hands, feet and ankles. Other symptoms can include fatigue, altered heart rate and rise in blood pressure
• Effects upon the limbs – with poor circulation, cramps in the limbs, numbness and varicose veins can appear as symptoms

Sources:

1. Ezine Articles
2. Suote101

image: pro.corbis.com

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Q – I’m a caregiver in San Antonio for an elderly gentleman with MS; I’m trying to do everything I can to help him improve his condition, even though I am only responsible for the simple day-to-day tasks. Is there anything I can do with regards to his diet and exercise routine to try and improve his symptoms?

A – Exercise can definitely have a great deal of benefits upon the lives of seniors with MS. Not only can it help improve some of the symptoms of MS, like poor balance, muscle pain and other physical limitations; it can also improve overall well-being and help seniors to lift their spirits at a time when they might be struggling psychologically. Of course, these benefits are only attained if seniors are safe about their exercise routines, and proceed only with the approval of a doctor before any new exercise routines are started. With diet, there are no strong results in either direction, that either prove or disprove that diet can help or hinder the development of MS. There is some evidence that saturated fats can increase a person’s chances of developing Multiple Sclerosis later in life, and it can also aggravate the condition once it is already present; so saturated fats should be replaced with polyunsaturated fats instead.

Sources:

1. Science Daily
2. MS Society
3. WebMD

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Q – My mom has been diagnosed with osteoporosis by a San Antonio doctor. He says that it’s probably genetics as well as her gender that have made her pre-disposed to this common aging issue that affects approximately 10 million Americans. Many seniors seem to have a sense of finality about osteoporosis, but I’ve heard that it can be reversed; is this true?

A – Osteoporosis can have a sense of finality, but there are ways to improve bone density lost to the disease, and generally reduce the likelihood that a senior will have an accident or injury as a result of the disease. Nutrition can play a role, with calcium and Vitamin D; but the best way to increase bone density and bone strength is to exercise! Weight bearing exercises that cause the muscles and bones to work against gravity can help to regain bone loss that occurs with osteoporosis. Seniors can try walking, jogging, dancing, climbing stairs, or even certain sports like soccer. Resistance training like weight lifting of free weights or using exercise machines builds muscle as well as bone strength to help improve the impact of osteoporosis as well.

Your mother has already made the first step to treating her osteoporosis by seeing a doctor; now, she doesn’t need to accept it as a normal part of aging, she can improve her bone health!

Sources:

1. Suite101
2. MayoClinic

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Blood pressure is a common issue that touches one in three Americans living in San Antonio, and it’s not something that should be taken lightly, because primary hypertension can kill. A diet that’s too high in sodium can not only cause blood pressure to raise sky high, it can also exasperate the symptoms and put those with hypertension at risk. Sodium is hidden in many foods that San Antonio seniors may not even be aware of; so when attempting to reduce the sodium in a diet, seniors can abide by the following diet plan:

• Avoid using much salt when cooking, or when putting it on food at the table
• Avoid foods that are high in salt – when purchasing chips, crackers or other items which tend to be salty, look for products that say “low sodium on the package”
• Choose fresh or frozen foods instead of canned goods which may have high sodium levels for preservation
• Always read the nutrition information about foods before purchase
• Use other seasonings instead of salt in order to add flavor to food. Herbs, spices, lemon, juice and garlic can be tasty seasonings to use during food preparation.

Sources:

1. Suite101
2. Heart and Stoke Foundation

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Let it be said, there’s no such thing as being too old to exercise; but in order to make sure that San Antonio seniors remain safe, they need to pick activities that are well-suited to their current level of physical fitness when getting started, and appropriate activities as advised by a doctor. The sky is the limit when choosing exercise activities provided seniors are conscious and careful about what they’re doing and how they do it. Anytime San Antonio seniors demonstrate the following signs during physical activity, it’s time to take a step back and consult a medical professional.

• chest pain or tightness in the chest, neck or throat;
• considerable difficulty breathing;
• abnormal heart rhythm; nausea’ dizziness, light headedness, or visual
• interruption; excessive cold sweat; or extreme or lasting weakness or fatigue (after exercise)

As long as it’s okayed by a doctor, seniors can choose whatever activity they enjoy; whether it’s walking, swimming, cycling, hiking, yoga, or working out on cardiovascular equipment at a gym, anything goes as long as health and safety always remain the top priority!

Sources:

1. Mature Fitness
2. Family Doctor

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Physical fitness is a lifestyle choice which is completely independent of age; anyone can start a fitness program, no matter how old they are. But in order to ensure that they receive the optimal benefits to their body and mind, San Antonio seniors need to exercise safely and smartly and keep a few things in mind:

• Remember that age shouldn’t limit them - in reality, a fit 70 year old can be stronger and in better health than a senior who is sedentary
• To avoid injury seniors need to choose activities that are well-suited to their physical abilities; and if they are concerned can talk to a doctor and a fitness expert who has experience working with seniors
• Overexertion can have negative health repercussions, seniors who pay close attention to the signs and symptoms generated from their bodies and know when to take it easy will likely avoid the health  risks
• Seniors should choose activities that they enjoy – this can be through trial and error – but generally, any physical activity is beneficial. By varying their routine and sticking with the exercises they enjoy, they will be more likely to keep it up

Sources:

1. Mature Fitness
2. MedicineNet

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

When art is suggested to many San Antonio seniors, their immediate response is that they have no artistic talent. That may be so, but art isn’t about how good you are; it’s about self-expression, communication, relaxation, creativity, and memory stimulation. So, next time someone encourages you to pick up a pencil, paintbrush, or clay; don’t let your inhibitions stop you, just have a good time, get messy, and experiment your way to all of the benefits that art has to offer.

Caregivers can introduce seniors to art at home, or they can find lessons offered by San Antonio community center, senior centers, art schools or even community colleges which may have inexpensive art programs specifically for senior citizens.

Regardless of the venue, here are a few simple tips for introducing art to seniors that ensures safety and enjoyment remains the main concerns:

• Choose safe materials – this is of particular importance when introducing art to seniors with dementia, Alzhimer’s or other cognitive impairments. Avoid art tools that have sharp ends, and work with non-toxic paints and materials only
• Choose activities well-suited to the seniors capabilities – sometimes caregivers and instructors can make the mistake of selecting childlike activities for seniors, especially those who have dementia, however, they should be allowed to use their own creativity, so avoid paint by number style art projects that might not be challenging enough
• Ask the senior about their interests – art takes many forms; ask seniors if there are any specific art activities from their past that they would like to learn again, or if they have developed any new interests
• Do the activity together – doing an activity together can help you to inspire each other and help you both get started on your art projects
• Don’t put a timeline on projects – only the creator can decide when their art creation is finished. Classes may provide limited time to work on art projects, but they can be continued at home; but don’t set these limits when starting projects at home

Sources:

1. Smart Senior
2. Seniors Making Art
3. My Optum Health

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

When my grandfather was in his 80s it became evident that he was struggling with finding things to occupy his day. Throughout his life he had been physically active, playing golf on a weekly basis and getting outside as a way to pass the time during retirement. However, as age began taking its toll on his body, he had to give up many of the activities that he enjoyed and that kept him occupied during the day. To give him something to keep him entertained in the home, our family decided to pass on an older computer that was no longer getting regular use. My grandfather was excited about the opportunity to read his favorite British newspapers that he was missing out on, try out some computer games, and use email to connect with his relatives around the world.

To make using the computer as simple and straightforward as possible, we set up bookmarks on his computer, made sure that all of his logins and passwords were already stored, and created shortcuts to the applications and games that he used often. We also wrote down complete written instructions to walk him through every step of the process. The biggest difference for him was email, since in recent years he struggled greatly with his hearing that made talking on the phone nearly impossible even with special devices. There are many benefits, but also many challenges; but fortunately the positive outweighs the negative and we’ve learned to be patient and try to walk him through the trials and tribulations of technology use in older adulthood.

A Personal account by Beth Hodgson, writer for Carebuzz

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Image Source: pro.corbis.com